Milwaukee, WI – March 25 marked the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Derek Chauvin and the Minneapolis Police Department. In 2020 Floyd’s murder sparked the largest uprising against police in decades in the United States, and even five years later his life brought together 250 Milwaukeeans to rally, march and eat as a community to honor his memory.
The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) and All People’s Gathering Church (APGC) cohosted the afternoon events in order to commemorate Floyd as a person, give voice to the lives of the many Milwaukeeans murdered by police and jails, and recommit to the struggle to end police crimes.
Orlando, FL – On May 25, tropical showers did not stop Orlando Against Police Crimes (OAPC) from raining down condemnation on both local killer cops and President Trump’s latest executive order on policing. 30 people gathered at Lake Eola as part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s (NAARPR) call to action on the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by Derek Chauvin.
New Orleans, LA – New Orleanians hit the streets on Sunday evening, May 25, to honor George Floyd on the five-year angelversary of his murder in 2020 by killer cop Derek Chauvin.
The rally began at City Hall around 5 p.m., demanding an end to Trump’s racist attacks. In particular opposing Trump’s Executive Order 14288 which seeks to strengthen policing, while anti-immigrant “Project Homecoming” puts more police power towards deportations. The demonstration also demanded justice for victims of police crimes, an end to attacks on immigrants, and called for community control of the police.
Tallahassee, FL – On Sunday, May 25, 20 people rallied outside City Hall against Trump’s Executive Order 14288 on the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. Between chants from the crowd, local organizers spoke out against Trump’s policy.
“Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14288, a racist dog whistle, is not just another policy. It’s a declaration of war against our movements for justice,” said Nicole Soza, speaking on behalf of 50501 and Voices for Florida. “This is not about public safety. It is about protecting those who maim and kill with a badge and giving them more tools to silence dissent simply because they have that badge.”
Minneapolis, MN – Just days before the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, rumors swirled that Trump planned to pardon former police officer Derek Chauvin on his federal conviction for violating Floyd’s civil rights. While critical of a pardon, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told reporters he was preparing for the possibility.
Instead of waiting for bad news, organizers from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice and Black Lives Matter Minnesota called an emergency protest on Monday, May 19. Nearly 100 people gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center – the building where killer cop Derek Chauvin was convicted – to say, “No to a pardon!” and “No to all of Trump’s attacks!”
Washington, D.C. – A crowd of 50 activists and community members gathered in Lafayette Square on Sunday – the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. They protested the Trump administration’s new Executive Order 14288.
The action, hosted by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression DC (NAARPR DC), called on attendees to “Fight the Trump Agenda!” Leaders demanded that the U.S. Congress overturn Executive Order 14288, pass the George Floyd Act, and establish community control of the police in Washington DC.
Santa Ana, CA – On Sunday, May 18, about 30 protesters marched on the Santa Ana Police Department to demand the jailing of officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra for the murder of Noe Rodriguez and for SAPD to immediately make public any ICE and DHS alerts they receive.
Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) independently obtained the names and body camera footage of the officers who killed Noe Rodriguez through a Public Records Act Request since this information was never shared with the family of Rodriguez. In that footage it can be seen that officer Casillas shot Rodriguez 18 times and officer Ibarra shot him 11 times.
Aurora CO – On Saturday, May 17, a dozen community members gathered in front of the Aurora Police Department Headquarters for an emergency rally to protest the killing of another Black man by the APD, and the subsequent cover-up that is still unfolding.
It was on May 12, Monday evening, that the APD received calls about a “suspicious person” wandering a private Park-and-Ride near the Denver International Airport.
Eureka, CA – Over the past two months, a community members have been voicing their serious concerns over Bill No. 1040-C.S., a bill that would make camping and resting in public spaces punishable by misdemeanor. It would also put law enforcement in charge of a “rehabilitation” program called LEAD, or Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, which could lead to the misdemeanor being dropped if the arrestee completes the program.
Fuerzas reaccionarias se están uniendo para permitir violencia policial y socavar la rendición de cuentas que se ha logrado tras una ardua lucha. Las autoridades de Minnesota ahora piden calma si Trump decide indultar a Derek Chauvin, el asesino condenado de George Floyd.
La idea de un indulto federal para Chauvin, cuya condena solo se logró después de que millones de personas inundaron las calles en 2020, sería escupirle en la cara del movimiento que obligó un ajuste de cuentas con los crímenes policiales. Todos quienes defienden la justicia y creen que las vidas negras importan deben estar alerta. Si esto sucede, este indulto debe ser enfrentado con resistencia masiva.
Washington, DC – Over 100 community members and organizers from the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) gathered on Saturday in Ward 8 to enjoy a cookout in support of the Butler Family. The cookout, hosted by the DC Alliance, featured activities for the kids (such as a bounce house), along with music, dancing, games and plenty of food.
Denver, CO – On May 9, about 40 activists and community members from around Colorado met at the Washington Community Center for an event hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization entitled “Political Repression – How We Fight and Win!”
Reactionary forces are rallying to enable police violence and to undermine the accountability that has been hard won through struggle. Minnesota authorities are now appealing for calm if Trump decides to pardon Derek Chauvin, the convicted murderer of George Floyd.
The idea of a federal pardon for Chauvin, whose conviction was only secured after millions flooded the streets in 2020, would spit in the face of the movement that forced a reckoning with police crimes. All those who stand for justice and believe Black lives matter should be on alert. If it happens, this pardon must be met with mass resistance.
Grand Rapids, MI – On Thursday, May 8, over 100 activists and community members gathered outside the Kent County 17th Circuit Court to stand in solidarity, outrage and mourning with the family of Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed black man and Congolese immigrant who was killed in a 2022 traffic stop by the Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr.
After years of waiting for justice while Christopher Schurr walked free of consequences, the prosecutor’s office finally put Schurr on trial for murder. But after days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and a mistrial was declared by the judge.
In response to the news, protesters took to the streets to demand a retrial and justice for Patrick and his family.
Philadelphia, PA – On May 3, around 40 community members and activists came together to commemorate the half year anniversary of Robert Jones’ killing by Detective Christopher Sweeney. The rally took place at the south side of City Hall in the afternoon.
Aurora, CO – On April 30, a call-in was organized to place pressure on Colorado’s 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason to charge and convict the police responsible for two acts of racist police violence that happened last year.
The murder of Kory Dillard and the brutalization of Te’Erica Mosely, both at the hands of the police, led to members of the Denver-Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAC) organizing the action.
New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday, May 6, New Orleans supporters packed the court for community activist Toni Jones’ trial in municipal court. Jones is chair of New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police and a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. She was arrested while doing security for a Palestine protest over a year ago.
Colorado Springs, CO – On Tuesday, April 29, a crowd of about 100 community members gathered in front of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to demand local law enforcement stop cooperating with federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The demonstration, organized by the Colorado Springs People’s Coalition, came in response to a Sunday raid in which more than 300 officers from local and federal agencies – including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Colorado Springs Police Department, and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office – surrounded a nightclub with weapons drawn. Authorities ordered occupants to exit with their hands up, detaining and transferring 114 people to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Grand Rapids, MI – On the afternoon of Sunday, April 27, organizers with the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (GRAARPR) rallied alongside community members on the steps of the Kent County Court House to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya, along with community control of the police.
Grand Rapids, MI – At 8:30 a.m. on the morning of April 28, the trial of Christopher Schurr for the murder of Patrick Lyoya began.
Patrick Lyoya was a Congolese man living in Grand Rapids when he was shot and killed by former Grand Rapids Police Department officer Christopher Schurr on April 4, 2022, during a traffic stop. A little over three years later, this officer who executed Lyoya is finally seeing his day in court.
